Type-writing machine.



PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908.

R. D. STAGKPOLE.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED D30. 18, 1902.

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N0 MODEL PATENTED AUG. 18, 19031 R. D. STAGKPOLE. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO.18, 1902.

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PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903.

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R. D. STAGKPOLE.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION IILED DBO. 1a. 1902.

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STATES Patented August 18, 1903.

ATENT OFFICE.

RALPH DOW STACKPOLR OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR,

BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ELLIOTT-FISHER COMPANY, A CORPORA- TION OFDELAWARE.-

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,646, dated August18, 1903. Application filed December 18,1902. Serial No. 185,726. (Nomodel.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH DowSTAoKPoLE, of Harrisburg, county ofDauphin, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Type-lVriting Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has reference to that class of machines wherein the sheetto be written upon is supported on a fiat bed or platen beneath awriting mechanism arranged to travel thereover for letter and linespacing.

The special object of the invention is to provide a simple means wherebybills, state ments, and other commercial papers may be speedily producedin duplicate without the employment of complicated mechanism and withoutthe necessity for adjusting the carbon-sheet employed to produce theduplicate copy.

To this end it consists in combining with the bed or platen an overlyingnormally stationary carbon-sheet having one edge exposed, so that thesecond sheet or page on which the copy is to appear may be readilythrust thereunder.

It is preferred to make the carbon-sheet of less width than the platenand to form in the latter a longitudinal depression over which thecarbon projects at one edge, so that the ingoing sheet,having itsforward ed gedropped into the cavity, will pass forward instantly andwith certainty beneath the carbon-sheet. Along the one edge of thecarbon-sheet over the depression in the platen it is preferred to extenda metal guard, which may be of sheet metal, to overlap or embrace theedge of the carbon-sheet.

Bills and statements are commonly made on a sheet folded in the middlefor the purpose of producing a copy on the underlying half. These foldedsheets may be adjusted in the present machine without special care andwithout loss of time by thrusting the lower end under the guide andunder the earhon-sheets and allowing the upper portion to pass over theupper uninked surface of the carbon on which printing is effected by thelVith the platen writing-machine, as usual.

it is proposed to employ an overlying vertically-movable frame, as inthe ordinary Elliott and Hatch machine, to bear upon and confine inplace the edge or edges of the sheet on which the writing is to beperformed.

Devices are provided for feeding the carbon-sheet automatically or byhand, as preferred.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the platenwith the carbon-sheet in position thereon, the writing mechanism(indicated by dotted lines) being omitted to expose the parts thereunderto view. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 2 2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on the correspondinglynumbered line of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a similar view 011 a muchlarger scale in order to show more clearly the relations of the carbonand the paper sheets, the middle of the platen being broken away toreduce the size of the figure. Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sectionsillustrating modified or alternative constructions. Fig. 7 is a sideview of the rear end of the platen and overlying frame looking in thedirection of the arrow 7 in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of theplaten.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a flat bed or, platen similar tothat used in the ordinary Elliott and Hatch machine of commerce,consisting of a fiat metal plate with a smooth surface of vulcanizedrubber or similar yielding material.

13 represents an open rectangular frame having its longitudinal sidebars arranged to overlap the edges of the platen to confine the paperthereon, movable, as usual, vertically free of the platen to admit ofthe removal of the printed sheet and the insertion of a fresh sheet.This frame serves also to support the base-frame of the writingmechanism, which is mounted to slide forward and backward thereon, asusual, this mechanism being indieated by dotted lines. This writingmechanism is constructed and arranged, as usual, to travel laterally andlongitudinally for word and line spacing and to print in a downwarddirection on the paper supported on the platen. It is provided, asusual, with an inked ribbon, by which the first or original impressionis made on the uppermost sheet of paper.

In embodying the improvement in the machine the platen A is constructed,as shown, with a longitudinal depression or channel a, preferably nearthe right-hand margin, and a sheet of carbon-paper or a cloth (3, suchas commonly employed for producing duplicate print, is extendedlengthwise of the platen, permitting one edge to overlap or overhang thedepression a, so that the paper sheet 011 which the duplicate copy is tobe produced may be dropped into the cavity below the edge of thecarbon-sheet and pushed forward to the required position under thelatter by a single instantaneous movement of the hand.

In commercial houses for the production of bills and statements induplicate it is customary to employ a sheet folded or doubled lengthwisenear the middle, with the lower sheet or leaf extending somewhat beyondthe upper one. In introducing a sheet of this kind it is grasped betweenthe thumb and finger at the folded edge 01' bight on the right and thelower left edge dropped into the recess in the platen and thrust forwardunder the carbon-sheet, the same movement carrying the upper leaf intoposition above the carbon-sheet in order to receive the directimpression from the type and ribbon of the overlying printing mechanism.

In order to properly determine the position of the ingoing sheet andlimit its movement without requiring care or delay on the part of theoperator, at stop or guide D is used along the right side of thecarbon-sheet, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This guide or stop ispreferably fixed rigidly in position. It mayconsist, as shown in Figs. 3and 4, of a strip of sheet metal folded into U form to embrace the edgeof the carbon-sheet, or it may consist of a rod or wire lying adjacentto the edge of the sheet, as shown in Fig. 5, the only essentialrequirement in this respect being that the guide shall lie in suchposition as to permit the free passage of the paper sheet beneath it tothe surface of the platen under the carbon. After the printing iseffected the sheet is removed by grasping the right-hand edge anddrawing it laterally out of the machine.

In order to facilitate the introduction and removal of the sheet, anopening a is formed through the platen of suitable size and form topermit the introduction of one or more fingers to grasp the edge of thesheet below the guide at the same time that it receives the preseure ofthe thumb above the guide.

It is manifest that the cavity or depression a may be of any suitableform and size and located at any suitable point, provided only itexposes the edge of the carbon-sheet without the latter being raisedfrom the platen, so as to permit the introduction of the paperthereunder.

If the carbon-sheet is extended entirely across the platen, thedepression may be made at one end of the latter, as shown in Fig. 6. Theedge of the carbon-sheet overlying or overhanging this depressed orcut-away surface to facilitate the passage of the paper sheet thereunderis indicated in dotted lines.

The carbon-sheet may be fixed in position in any suitable manner, theonly requirement being that it shall be held in place during theinsertion and removal of the paper.

It is preferred to wind a long carbon sheet or web on a horizontal rollE, mounted in ears on the under side of the platen at the front, toextend the sheet thence rearward over the platen and between a rubber orother feedroll F and a pressure-roll G at the rear end of the platen, sothat when the roll F is turned the carbon will be drawn rearward inorder to expose a fresh surface in the printing-field. In order toeffect this movement automatic; ally and gradually, it is proposed toprovide the shaft of the roll F at one end with a ratchetwheel and witha loose lever H, carrying a pawl I, to turn said wheel. The forward endof this lever preponderates and falls by gravity when released. The rearend is turned upward in such manner that when the writ ing mechanismslides backward to the rear end of the supporting-frame B preparatory toinserting or removing the sheet it encounters the rear end of the lever,depressing the same and causing it through the intermediate parts tomove the carbon-sheet.

The roll F is mounted in fixed ears or bearings on the platen, while theroll G and an underlying parallel cross-blade g are mounted in a rockingframe 9, pivoted to the platen at g and acted upon by a spring g Thisspring tends to hold the roll Gr down upon the sheet passing between itand the roll F, but admits of the roll G being readily raised when theend of a new sheet is to be threaded between the rolls. The essentialfeature in this respect'is the arrangement of the rolloperating deviceso as to be actuated automatically by the movement of the writingmechanism. It is manifest that the details may be modified at will. Theblade 9 aids in guiding the web and serves as a means over or againstwhich totear off the used portions of the carbon-web.

In practice the machine is found to be operative for most'billingoperations without clamping or confining the folded sheet otherwise thanby the guide D and the carbon. In some cases, however, where the sheetis long and many entries are to be made, it is desirable to hold itfirmly in place on the platen, and this is effected by having thecarhon-sheet of such width that the underlying paper sheet will extendbeyond it on the left with the protruding edge in position to be clampedon the platen by the overlying side bar of the frame B.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In atype-Writing machine, and in combi nation with an overlying printingmechanism,

a flat bed or platen to support the paper, a carbon-sheet overlying theplaten and overhanging it at one edge, substantially as described, tofacilitate the introduction of the paper between it and the platen.

2. In atype-writing machine, the combination of a flat bed or platen, anoverlying vertically-moving frame to confine the paper, a writingmechanism movable on said frame, and a carbon-sheet overlying the platenand having an exposed overhanging edge whereby the introduction of thepaper between the carbon and the platen is facilitated, and itsconfinement by the overlying frame is permitted.

In a type-writing machine, and in combination with an overlyingcarbon-sheet, a flat paper-supporting platen, and a depressed portion toexpose the overlying edge of the carbonsheet.

4. In a type-writing machine, the flat platen having a depressed portionand a guard thereover.

5. Inatype-writin g machine, the flat platen having the depressedportion, in combination with a rigid guard extended over the edge ofsaid depressed portion, and a carbon -sheet overlying the platen, andextending at one edge lengthwise of the guard.

(3. I11 a type-writing machine, a flat platen provided with a depressedportion, and an opening therethrough in combination with an overlyingcarbon-sheet.

7 In a type-writer, the flat platen having a depressed portion, incombination with the overlying carbon-sheet and the guard embracing theedge of the sheet.

8. In a type-writer, the flat platen having a depressed portion, incombination with the carbon-sheet overlying the platen and the edge ofthe depression and the paper-confining frame.

9. In a type-writing machine, the flat platen having a depressiontherein, a carbon -sheet extended lengthwise of the platen, andoverlying the depression, rolls to carry said sheet, suppports for saidrolls attached to the platen.

10. In a type-writer, the flat platen, a longitudinal carbon-sheet andits supporting-rolls attached to the platen, in combination with thedownwardly acting writing mechanism, and the verticallymovablepaper-confining frame whereon the writing mechanism is mounted to slidewhereby the paper-confining frame is permitted to rise and fallindependently of the platen and the carbon-sheet.

11. In a type-writer, the flat platen, a longitudinal earbon-sheet andits supporting-rolls attached to the platen, in combination with thedownwardly acting writing mechanism, verticallymovable paperconfiningframe whereon a writing mechanism is mounted to slide rearward, and aroll-turning mechanism actuated by the sliding movement of the writingmechanism.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 3d day of December,1902, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

RALPH DOW STACKPOLE.

Vitnesses:

CHARLEs N. MILLER, WM. Il. MIDDLETON.

